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Europe Facing a ‘Stress Test’ Europe is facing a “stress test” in the form of challenges from a
“belligerent” Russia, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, a historic
influx of migrants, high rates of unemployment, and low levels of trust
in European institutions, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United
States, Kim Darroch, said at the Atlantic Council on May 25. Given this
reality, he added, it is important for the UK to remain in the European
Union.

Taliban Leader’s Death Puts Pakistan on NoticeThe US drone strike that killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad
Mansour in Pakistan over the weekend should send a clear signal that the
United States will no longer tolerate terrorist sanctuaries in
Pakistan, said the Atlantic Council’s James B. Cunningham.

A ‘Shortsighted’ US EmbraceThe Obama administration has, in the conduct of its war against
terrorism, embraced a “shortsighted” approach that sets aside a
democratic agenda and overlooks human rights abuses committed by some of
its closest allies and partners in the Middle East, Kenneth Roth,
executive director of Human Rights Watch, said on May 18.

Failure to Quickly Ratify TPP Will Delay Trade Deal by ‘at Least a Decade’
A failure by Congress to speedily ratify a free-trade agreement between
the United States and eleven other Pacific Rim nations will mean that it
would take “at least a decade” to muster the political capital needed
to push the deal over the finish line, retired Adm. Michael Mullen, a
former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Atlantic
Council on May 16.

Libya Gets a Helping Hand in Anti-ISIS FightA decision by the United States and twenty other nations to provide
weapons and training to help Libya’s UN-backed government fight the
Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) will put pressure on
opponents—particularly a popular former General in Benghazi—to rally
behind the new administration, said the Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran.

Give (Arab) Peace (Initiative) a ChanceIn the absence of a credible Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Gulf
Arab states and Israel will find it hard to elevate their security
cooperation to deal with the threats posed by Iran and the Islamic State
of Iraq and al-Sham, according to the Atlantic Council’s Bilal Y. Saab.

Brexit Could Lead to ‘Dismembering’ of the European UnionA British exit from the European Union would weaken the United Kingdom,
likely unravel the EU by setting off a “cascade of referendums,” and
endanger US national security interests, two former US national security
advisors said on May 11.

Chuck Hagel to Next US President: Talk to PutinAs it ramps up its troop presence in Europe’s eastern flank, NATO must
be careful not to get embroiled in a “Cold War buildup” with Russia, and
the next US president must make it a priority to engage directly with
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chuck Hagel, a former US defense
secretary who currently serves as a distinguished statesman at the
Atlantic Council, said in Washington on May 10.